Chondroid chordoma in an atypical location

Arch Bronconeumol. 2013 Nov;49(11):491-3. doi: 10.1016/j.arbres.2013.03.006. Epub 2013 Jun 18.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Chondroid chordoma is an extremely rare tumour with an annual incidence of around 0.1 cases per 100,000population. Involvement of the thoracic vertebrae may be present in 2-5% of cases. Definitive diagnosis usually requires a suitable distinction between this and other mesenchymal tumours such as chondrosarcomas, so immunohistochemical analysis is virtually mandatory. In spite of its slow-growing nature, chondroid chordoma tends to relapse, and it may eventually become malignant, often jeopardising the patient's prognosis. Although surgery remains the main therapeutic approach, research into the molecular and genetic aspects of this tumour is ongoing. These new advances are likely to improve future oncology therapies by complementing surgery and radiotherapy, changing the currently poor prognosis. We report the case of a patient with a chondroid chordoma involving the thoracic vertebrae and pleural cavity, and the treatment performed.

Keywords: Chondroid chordoma; Clasificación; Classification; Cordoma condroide; Tratamiento; Treatment; Tumor vertebral; Vertebral tumour.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chordoma / diagnosis*
  • Chordoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Chordoma / pathology
  • Chordoma / secondary
  • Chordoma / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Curettage
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Diaphragm / pathology
  • Echinococcosis / diagnosis
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Laminectomy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Neoplasms / secondary
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Pleural Cavity / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Cavity / pathology*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / secondary
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Remission Induction
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors